Fla Mike

30 minutes ago, Oxo said:

Fully understand your position!

Now for the other side of the coin. 

 

We are Seniors.

We liked to join in with the rest of the crowd to meet people from around the world on each cruise.

We don't mind waiting our turn.

We don't put towels on chairs to become a chair hog at any time.

We don't arrive an hour early for a show and never have.

We don't need a butler to unpack or escort us as we capable of doing so on our own.

We try to be self sufficient.

 

We would rather cruise more times than just the cost of 1 YC cruise.

We find the staff very friendly to all and even know us by name and our drink after the first couple of days.

 

I guess each person has:

'Different strokes for different folks.'

 

Enjoy your cruise regardless of category! Happy Cruising!

 

^^^ THAT ^^^

This happened to us for our Nov Seashore cruise, only we were not subject to any fees.

Wanted to upgrade to a Aurea aft suite, was not able to get the website price and I had to cancel and rebook.

Received my $99. deposit back in about 10 days.

 See my "Kinda Shoulda" post for the whole fiasco.

Thanks for all the info and photos, we will be on deck 14 on Seashore, 14280.

Every time I see the room and the views, I like it more and more.

Time will tell.

Just off Liberty yesterday, they were still offering 2X service but we told our room person 1X in the evening was fine.

Like someone else stated, we are very tidy and make up the bed in the morning, some ice, new towels and turn down is fine.

In addition to her regular grat, I gave her $25 up front and another $25 at the end.

She hugged me so tight I thought she cracked a rib.

Once a day is fine...

1 hour ago, morpheusofthesea said:

and DW commented on his now filming from a Tesla.

Lovey said the exact same thing.

The title of the is a little click-bait-ish, but not really.

I'm not sure if everyone is familiar with this vlogger, he has over 170K subscribers and has been employed by a few cruise lines.

I really enjoy watching his videos as he tells you how it is, and isn't afraid to voice his opinion.

Anyway, a recent sailing on Seascape.

He did have an inside cabin that was comped by his sponsor, and It was his second time on this ship.

What he has to say is enlightening, to say the least.

It's about 25 minutes,  but worth the time.

I'd like to hear everyone's comments...

9 hours ago, scorpiony3358 said:

there are certain basics that every cruise should have and MSC didn't meet my standards.

Key words here are "DIDN'T MEET MY STANDARDS"

17 minutes ago, Buckeyefrank100 said:

I've never heard of flamingo guitar.... 

Ask and thou shalt receive...

Gotta admit, I was thinking what we were all thinking...

Perhaps "POS" refers to "rePOSitioning" cruise?

Thanks for the honest and very fair review...

I think we must have had the same room steward on our Mera cruise last year.

Took two days for him to put on a top sheet Lovey asked for,  and when I asked him for a sharps container (am diabetic), he honestly had no idea what I was asking for, had to get the steward from down the hall to explain it to him, but it all worked out.

52 minutes ago, B_A_H said:

The dividing line is purely financial. 

Absolutely 100 percent correct!

One really needs to watch trigger words in today's climate.

Like I said, I don't disagree with the YC exclusions,  but "classifying"  people is just a recipe for disaster.

1 hour ago, Bgwest said:

sadly, your impeccable logic will not be able to penetrate obstinate minds. 

How true 😇

23 minutes ago, Bgwest said:

A bit thin skinned, perhaps?

Perhaps...not.

Just now, morpheusofthesea said:

Yes, it 'sounds' that way due to the choice of a pejorative. I

A conscious choice none the less.

1 hour ago, B_A_H said:

Pay or earn the privilege to be in a better caste or stay in the caste you're entitled to. 

 Not that I disagree with you...but

This almost sounds a little prejudiced

Like you don't want us on your block either?

I was waiting for this thread to go south.

Maybe it's time to lock it?

This was something Lovey and I debated for a while.

While we have cruised on Divina and Mera, it was Fantastica, and with Divina we were able to score an aft balcony, (our fav).

We figured we would give MSC one more chance, (horrendous service on Mera) with Seashore, but the aft cabins are all Aurea Suites.

The reduced perks were still worth it to us  and the aft Aurea suite was only about $150-200 more pp.

The location alone is worth it, the Thermal Spa, Top 19 and smaller MDR are icing on the cake.

We are also on a four day cruise, so if the crowd is too "Carny" we will just run away to the sun deck on 19 or the deck in the spa!

If the difference in price is reasonable, and you like the cabin, go for it.

Like you, we do not see YC as doable, but this Aurea Suite comes in at over $500pp less than a Concierge level cabin we were looking at with similar Celebrity cruise.

Tony, if I may, I'm going to take the opposite view as most...

Although the prices for the bid are really good and it would make sense to jump at it, there comes a point of diminishing returns for some, and Lovey and I are two of them.

For example, we would never do an inside cabin on a normal cruise, we enjoy siting outside, alone in the morning, and in the evening. Especially in an aft room, you just cant beat the view and the sounds

We could really care less about the extra service.

We can unpack ourselves, walk ourselves to shows.

Lovey and I are not foodies either, the regular menus are fine for us.

 We would have do do a balcony, and remember, that extra cost gets you close to another cruise.

Also the screen shot you posted is not YC, it is Aurea Suite, you will still be with the unwashed masses. The Aurea experience does come with a few extra perks, (that we did spring for on our next MSC cruise), but I do not think the extra perks carry over if you bid. Except they do with YC.

All that being said, when you read about the great time folks have, and look at the photos they post, I can see the draw for some.

Someone said:

It doesn't cost anymore to go first class, you just cant stay as long.

6 minutes ago, styles27 said:

Didn’t you guys just switch your original booked room when an aft facing became available on an upcoming cruise too?

Yup, we went up to an aft Aurea Suite on Seashore 😍

We have two cruises upcoming on RCL in February and May, but this cruise on the Seashore is the one we are waiting for...for nothing else but this room!!!

On our last Mera cruise I was trying to score an aft cabin and was unable to, even was willing to pay more for it.

We have also had an aft on Divina and always try for an aft cabin regardless on which line we sail, other than most RCL ships.

14 minutes ago, styles27 said:

We absolutely LOVE aft facing rooms. Nothing like sitting on your balcony watching that

wake.
You scored a great room considering you paid for the Bella experience. Enjoy!

Could not have said it better myself... you will be spoiled forever!

4 hours ago, Avatar345 said:

No doubt, but it's more... for that Aurea Suite, were there any staterooms available anyway that only accommodated 2ppl?

They are all 4 person, with the bunk bed sofa.

I was able to book an aft Aurea Suite on Seashore for November that holds four and it is just the two of us.

I think I read in another post that MSC holds back cabins depending on the market? P

Perhaps that's what is happening here?

3 hours ago, Oxo said:

Never say this cruise line is bad and the other is not. There are always conditions that create a problem /concern. 

Very well said...Thank You.

I would make sure I have my status match AND my Voyagers Club number set BEFORE booking.

You want to deal with customer service as little as possible.

8 hours ago, no1talks said:

Wait, has there historically been controversy regarding this observation?

I had mentioned it a few times over my time on this MSC board.

They are too inconsistent, on a consistent basis, if that makes since.

I had also mentioned to this CSR, that during her next sales meeting, she needs to bring up the fact about cancelling to re-book/re-fare...

Silence...

If I had an old Western Electric dial phone, I'd be slamming the receiver down on my desk to see if she was still alive.

I don't want to completely tip my hand here, as it has been a few years, but I have "a bit" of first person  knowledge of cruise line customer service/sales operations, and even front line CSR's will get a spiff on an upgrade, and loose nothing on a re-fare.

But, it is only my speculation.

I also know exactly where their office located, and the space is not large enough to handle a "Carnival Type" of operation, which I'm assuming most people think they are dealing with here.

If they have more than a half dozen reps there I'd be very surprised. Really just some group sales and shore-side management.

They are not off-shoring either, in my opinion. Everyone I have ever spoke to is American.

There are many third party Customer Care operations in Broward County, large call centers, and their job is to offer turn key CS operations.

AT&T comes to mind.

The reps get very basic training, and are then on their own.

There is liaison and on going support, but useless.

Get 'em on and off.

Again, no real proof, just ramblings of an old man who's been there.

Such were the learned words from the MSC customer Service Rep.

Background:

Lovey and I have a 4-day cruise (I know, I know) booked on Seashore for November in a standard Fantastica balcony, and I have been keeping my eye on the prices for those aft Aurea Suites overlooking the infinity pool.

The prices have been steadily inching up, but today they took a dive, so to speak. Price went down over $250pp, all in, with Wi-Fi and easy plus.

Our Fantastica down just over $100pp

Time to make a quick call to MSC to upgrade! But wait this is MSC, right? Not so fast.

I made screenshots of everything on I saw the web, just in case, there was a dispute in what they had, compared to what I had, and called.

After a very short hold a nice lady answered and I explained what I wanted to do and I even gave her the new cabin number we wanted

.

Then it began.

“That room is not available”, “The price will be $876. more”.

I explained what I have on the website.

“OK, hold on”. “Yes I can get you that room, but it will be $1256, more now”.

Once again, I explained.

“OK”, (typing and sighs in background). “Well, I can come close, but you cannot have what you see on-line as a current customer”.

 What??? You mean to tell me I can cancel this, get a refund of my deposit and go online and rebook?

“Hold for a moment”, (she actually put me on hold this time).

“Well, um, I need to move your booking, even though it is the same date, and It Will Kinda, Sorta, Should Work…Maybe. But if it doesn’t, you’ll lose your original room”.

So, if I cancel, I do get my deposit back…right.

“Yes, one to two billing cycles”.

Ok cancel.

I immediately received my cancelation notice and went online and rebooked, I got the price I wanted and the cabin. (Old reservation no longer shows).

I still stand by an earlier statement that MSC farms out the customer service to a third party.

You guys know this can’t be over yet, it was too easy.

I’ll keep you informed.

Oh, yeah...

I did mention to her very politely that any other cruise line, would be able to upgrade or re-fare a reservation before final payment.

I could almost see that big question mark bubble over her head. Kinda, Sorta, Maybe like a Warner Bros. cartoon.